Traction device



H. E. HOUSTON.

TRACTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.9.192o.

l., i Patented July 5A, 1921..

/IvI/E/I/TUR H. E. HOUSTON ATTORI/frs WITNESSES ,TRACTION DEVICE.

`which the' following is a full, clear,'and

exact description.

The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in traction devices and it-pertains more particularly to tractionV devices :especially adapted for attachment to wheels ofmotor vehicles to enable the-wheels to obtain a better traction grip on in mud holes, and the like.

It is one of the primaryY objectsof the invention to providea device which may bev readily attached to` and detached' from a' motor vehicle wheel. j

It is aI further objectof theinvention to so construct such a device that greater traction service is provided than is afforded by .the tread of the wheel.

It is a further object of the invention to construct a device of this character in such a manner that the same is adjustable to adapt kit to wheels, the treads of which are of various dimensions.

It is a stilly further object of the invention to provide a novel and effective means 'for securing the device in position upon the wheel.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a traction device showing the wheel to which it is attached partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l and at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line le-4; of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view able clamping member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference character 5 designates the felly of a motor vehicle wheel, and 6 designates the rim upon which is carried a tire 7, the said tire 7v in the present illustration of the invention being of the pneumatic type.

The traction device comprises a substantially rectangular plate 8, and saidrectangular plate 8 has one of its ends formed ofthe adjusti. ASpecification of Letters Patent. Y

" Application ledecember 9, 1920. Serial No. 429,474.

soft roads,

with an angularly-disposed portion 9 Vadapted to lie in engagement with one of the side walls ofthetire when the device is; positloned thereon. This traction member 8 is preferably constructed lofs'teel and is pro vided on its outer or traction surface with a plurality of spaced ribs o-r cleats. vThere are two centrally disposed ribs-orcleats 10, and spaced with respect to yeach ci' Asaid cenf trally-disposed ribs or cleats lO'are side cleatsll. These'cleats are each secured to the traction element 8 by means of rivets' or the like lf2, and said cleats .are arranged 1n spaced relation to each other-.as indicated in Fig.v l. The cleats are-tapered in crosssectional form and-are positioned with their narrowest face l5 disposed outwardly in' order that the space between the cleats willY f bel taperedl inwardly of said cleats.` Thetraction" element 8 is `provided* upon its .outer end with a plurality of notches 16, and said traction element is further provided upon its side edges with inwardly turned flanges 17, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The reference character 2O designates the clamping member which is preferably of approximately right-angular form, and said clamping member has its inner face so shaped as to conform to the contour of the tire casing 7, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. The ends of one wall of the clamping member 2() are bent upwardly around the inwardly turned side flanges 17, as at 21, in order that said clamping member may be slidably carried by the traction member 8, thus providing for its adjustment, and to retain the clamping member 2O in adjusted position, said clamping member carries a screw or bolt 22. Upon opposite sides of the head of the bolt 22, are guard plates 23, and said Guard plates extend outwardly beyond the head of the bolt 22 to protect the raten-tea July 15, i1-aai.

of rubber 'or other suitable pliable material. This bar 33 is adapted to be passed between the spokes of the wheel tof-which the device is to be attached, and then turned so that its protected ends engage the spokes ofthe wheel to prevent displacement of the bar 'relative thereto. The oppositeendofV the chain 30 projects to theouter end of the traction member 8, and one of th'e'links isadapted to be received withinthe central notch, or; opening 1,6. `As moreclearl'y shown in Fig.- 1, the two lopposite'ribs or cleats are shorter,v vthan the two central ribs or cleats, and .this

, construction provides flatgfaces' lat the Y cured in the` notches 16, it will beV apparent thatzpressure exerted upon-the traction eleouter corners of vthe .traction member '8.,

.Secured inl eachV of the side, ynotches 16 l and extending inwardly toward the wheel, is 1 a chain 437, and each of said chains ,37 is se-IV cured to the wheelin advance and to therear` ofthe traction element 8 in a manner similar.. tothat yin which` the centralchain is selV cured, it being understood that the. chains ,37, are'angularly disposed with respecteto the traction element I8.

Y In attaching the. device to the` wheel,V ifl the outer endof the traction element Sbe slightly elevatedV before the chains aregsement 8 will ,rock the saine untilit coincides withV the surface over whichthe vehicle is traveling, and this rockin y,tends to ti hten the'chains in order that t e' traction y evice may be more securely retained in place.

While in the present inventionthe device has been-shown asattached t'dthelftire of the `vpneumatic type, ,ith is obvious that the y same may be used inconnection with wheels or tires of any typeI with. e `1uall facility.

I..1 claim Y A traction elementcomprising'4 iv vided with a rigid right-angular end adapt-f ed to embrace .a portion Vof a--wheel, a block?" -V f slidably mounted on said plate and adapted; to engage a portion of the wheel, said right-1 A angular end and said blocknbeingtso sha-pend;v as to conform yto the outerrportionoic the wheel engaged, apluralit of ribs carried. p A by the plate, acentrallydisposed attaching` 'i chainextenidin longitudinally ofthe plate and engaging t e spokes'rofthe wheel at one Y end and .the end' of the plate at its other; .Y end, and diagonally arranged vchainsat-v tached to one end of the platefat onejpfjsaid ends, said-chains diverging toward tli'e.vl1eel confines of thel late.l

and secured thereto ata pointexterior vof the i ,nnwARDiioisTQN-p 

